Young Democrats Association

Stowarzyszenie „Młodzi Demokraci” (Young Democrats Association) is a Polish youth political organization founded on 19 February 1994 through the merger of the youth wings of the Democratic Union (Forum Młodych UD) and the Liberal Democratic Congress (Stowarzyszenie Młodzi Liberałowie). It describes itself as an all-Poland organization for young people active locally, nationally, and internationally, with the goal of increasing youth participation in public life, helping young people gain knowledge and qualifications, and facilitating contacts with international institutions and organizations. The association promotes values such as individual freedom, private property, self-governance, and education through meetings, training, seminars, public engagement, pickets, and social media activity. From 1994 to 2001 it cooperated with the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności), and from 2001 to 2022 it had a formal association agreement with Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska). In November 2022, media reported that Civic Platform had terminated the agreement, and the association was to be replaced by a new youth wing, Nowa Generacja Młodych. The organization operates across Poland with a three-tier structure: local circles, regional authorities, and national authorities. It is a member of the European Democrat Students (EDS) and the Democrat Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC). In 2008 it claimed nearly 7,000 members aged 16–30 in 16 regions and over 160 local circles. Its alumni include parliamentarians, MEPs, and local government officials. The association organizes events such as the „Młodzi Forum Dialogu” (Young Dialogue Forum), first held in Lublin on 25–27 June 2021. Its statutory goals include promoting pro-European attitudes, inspiring entrepreneurship, protecting young people's rights, promoting self-governance, ecology, physical culture, and national defense. The national board as of the source includes Przemysław Wajman as chairman, Natalia Małż as vice-chair, Antoni Roszkowski as secretary-general, Kacper Dziurawiec as treasurer, and Wiktoria Krezymon and Wiktor Karolak as board members.

Stowarzyszenie „Młodzi Demokraci” was established on 19 February 1994 from the merger of the youth organizations of the Democratic Union (Forum Młodych UD) and the Liberal Democratic Congress (Stowarzyszenie Młodzi Liberałowie). From 1994 to 2001, it cooperated with the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności). In 2001, a split occurred: part of its members ended cooperation with the Freedom Union and signed an association agreement with Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska), while the remaining members who stayed with the Freedom Union founded the Stowarzyszenie „Młode Centrum”. The organization continued to operate as a youth wing of Civic Platform until November 2022, when media reported that Civic Platform had terminated the association agreement. The reports also mentioned unpaid dues to the Youth of the European People's Party, and it was said that the Young Democrats would be replaced by a new association, Nowa Generacja Młodych. In the following days, members of the party's national board confirmed that Nowa Generacja had indeed become the new youth wing of Civic Platform. In 2008, the association claimed nearly 7,000 members aged 16–30 across 16 regions and over 160 local circles. It is a member of the European Democrat Students (EDS) and the Democrat Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC). The organization has organized events such as the „Młodzi Forum Dialogu”, first held in Lublin on 25–27 June 2021, which included a debate with Polish parliament marshals Radosław Sikorski, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Grzegorz Schetyna, and Tomasz Grodzki.

• Founded from merger of youth wings of Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress.

• Cooperated with the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności).

• Split: part joined Civic Platform, part founded Stowarzyszenie „Młode Centrum”.

• Association agreement with Civic Platform.

• Claimed nearly 7,000 members in 16 regions and over 160 local circles.

• First edition of „Młodzi Forum Dialogu” held in Lublin.

• Media reported Civic Platform terminated the association agreement.

Youth political organization promoting liberal, pro-European values and civic engagement in Poland.

1. 1Stowarzyszenie Młodzi Demokracismd.org.pl
2. 2Stowarzyszenie „Młodzi Demokraci” – Wikipediapl.wikipedia.org
3. 3"Young Democrats" movement – Wikidatawikidata.org